The lightning caused Basin Complex Fire burned more than 155,000 acres in and around Big Sur in June and July 2008. Twenty seven homes burned to the ground but many dozens were spared the flames as the fire made numerous down canyon runs towards the city over the course of many days. The Basin Complex Complex fire itself was brilliantly managed however as good as the fire was managed community relations between fire command and the community was equally mismanaged.
Though town and countryside residents were ordered evacuated most stayed to defend their property. One homeowner, a former firefighter, was arrested when he employed proven firefighting tactics to save his homestead. Another property was saved when local firefighters broke ranks and saved a neighbor's home, a home given up on by Basin Complex command.
As the fire moved east through the Ventana Wilderness the resident monks of the Tassajara Mountain Center prepared for the fire's arrival. The compound had survived the 178,000 acre Marble Cone Fire in 1977 by residents with the aid of a handful of volunteer firefighters. Five monks stayed to face the Basin Fire alone. Fire command decided the facility did not fit the criteria required to send in fire engines or crews. Air support was denied as well.
For more about the Basin Complex Fire and the story of the five monks read Firefighter Blog's Basin Complex coverage.
Image GeoMAC
The map image was captured July 23. The shaded area is the perimeter of the 82,000 acre Indians Fire that burned from late May into July 2008. The Indians Fire and Basin Complex combined to burn more than 240,000 acres. Though they merged the two fires will be recorded as separate fires. If combined the fires would claim the number 4 spot on the list of largest California wildfires in state history.
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